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Far-right National Front party regional leader for southeastern France Marion Marechal-Le Pen attends a press conference in Bayonne, southwestern France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. She is campaigning for far-right candidate for the presidential election Marine Le Pen, seen on poster ... more >

Marion Maréchal-Le Pen’s invitation to speak at this week’s Conservative Political Action Conference has yet again exposed fault lines on the right — the latest skirmish in the battle for conservatism’s soul in the age of Trump.

Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, which puts on the preeminent conservative political conference every year, fended off criticism from conservative thinkers — chiefly National Review’s Jonah Goldberg — on Monday night over the decision to extend an invitation to the former National Front MP.

Responding to a remark from the Reagan Battalion, Mr. Schlapp described Ms. Maréchal-Le Pen, granddaughter of FN founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, as a “classical liberal” and “conservative.” He said she should not be confused with her aunt, Marine Le Pen, who heads the right-wing populist party.

Seriously, @mschlapp I’m psyched to learn that she’s a classical liberal. I’ve always known her economic policies were less statist than her grandfather’s or mom’s. But I didn’t know she was a disciple of Bastiat et al. I’d like to see the research you refer to though. https://t.co/VLorlGyUg7

Ms. Maréchal-Le Pen, 28, became the youngest member of parliament in modern French history when she was elected to a seat in France’s southeast region in 2012.

Proclaimed a “rising star” by former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, Ms. Maréchal-Le Pen stepped away from politics last year citing a desire to spend more time with her daughter.

She is more socially conservative than her aunt, publicly clashing with her on abortion rights, and is also seen as a throwback to her grandfather’s more outspoken nationalism.

Monday night’s Twitter exchange appeared to take a personal turn when Mr. Schlapp brought Mr. Goldberg’s wife, a speechwriter for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, into the conversation.

Hey Matt, please address my point. You know I like you (& your wife). Personally I think it’s bad form to drag my wife into this. Regardless, CPAC claims to speak for the conservative movement. A speaker from the National Front, never mind a Le Pen seems like a bad decision. https://t.co/WNnAPAI7WW

So, how many critics of Donald Trump are on the agenda? I mean from the right? Democracy, debate, rah-rah right? Is George Will a conservative? If Marion Le Pen is a classical liberal, so is Jeff Flake. Is he speaking? https://t.co/DkBAr4jVty